E-book Link Download The Sigalovade in Pictures E-Book
The
Sigalovada Sutta takes place when Lord Buddha encountered a youth called Sigala
in his morning stroll. The young man, in drenched attire, prostrated and
worshipped the four compass direction (East, South, West and North), plus the
Earth (Down) and the Sky (Up). When asked by Lord Buddha why he did so, the
youth Sigala replied that he had been told by his late father to do so and he
thought that it was right to uphold his father's wishes.
Lord Buddha then, based on Sigala's point of view, taught him on how a noble one
should worship the Six directions.
The
Buddha first describes fourteen evil ways that should be avoided by a
householder. The Buddha enumerates these evil ways to be avoided as:
The
four defilements of action:
- taking life (panatipato)
- stealing (adinnadanam)
- sexual misconduct (kamesu
micchacaro)
- lying (musavado)
The
four causes of evil action:
- desire (chanda)
- hate (dosa)
- ignorance (moha)
- fear (bhaya)
The
six ways of squandering wealth:
- indulging in intoxicants
- wandering the streets at inappropriate
times
- frequenting public spectacle
- compulsive gambling
- malevolent companionship
- habitual idleness
The
Buddha then elaborated on the importance of having and being a true friend, as
he described what true friends are; and what true friends are not; and, how
true friends will aid in attaining a blissful life.
Finally,
returning to the topic of the six directions, the Buddha described the Four
Compass Direction as : parents (East), teachers (South), wife (West), and
friends and colleagues (North), and the two vertical directions as: ascetics
and Brahmins (Up) and the Servants (Down). He elaborated on how to respect and
support them, and how in turn the Six will return the kindness and support.
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